Valve



P. G. FUNK VALVE Filed April 21, 1943 May 1, 1945.

IN VEN TOR. /Der Geary; Zn BY f/r'brnf/ l 'L v INU. V.. lm

Patented May 1,?1945 v UNITED STATES" meow-Ef y Peter Georgevunk, Ridgewood, N. Y. Application April 21, 1943,S'erial No; 483,867

2 claims. tot 1st-.469)

The present invention relatesto valves for conto automatic valves that are adjustable with respect to the rate offlow permitted thereby `and restrictive with respect to the direction ,of 4flow of such fluids. l

An important object of the invention is'topro vide a valve for controlling the rateof flow of uids, which is capable of easy adjustment.

Another object is `to provide an adjustable valve, the setting of which"isrnaintainedv constant over a long period of use; L

An additional object of the'invention is to'pro vide an adjustable automatic-valve having a wide restrictable path.A f l Another object of the invention is tofprovidea path for iluids in an adjustable automatic `valve adapted to widely distribute fluids inboth opened and constricted conditions.

A further object is to `provide a valve thatwi-ll i.

be quiet in operation.

Another object of the invention is -to provide a valve `for controlling the flow of iluid ironia sanitary to an unsanitarystorage place.` f

A stillfurther objectofthe inventionis to-provide a valve for a toilet flushing systemadapted to prevent the back'ilow of water into `the supply pipe. n

Another object is toV provide an adjustable w automatic valve, the adjustable elements `of which will be subject to negligible wear.

According to a characteristic feature ofthe invention, a cylindrical collar is disposed controlling the flow of fluids, and more particularly the otherend face of` said collartand in `part by the outer surfacaof thatA portion of said cylinder which ex:-

tends into said collar and in part by the outer surface .of a portion of the supply pipe referred of said collar by the interiorcsurto. Theend portion ofsaid valve cylinder which extends: into said collar is provided with an exten `nal surface configuration of `such character, that in combination with accmplementary configuration on `the .interior surface of the cylindrical collar` referred to, an annular path forthe fluid `whose passage .iscto becontrolled, is formed.

The complementary `surfaces which define the path in this manner are preferably conical. Ro tation of said collar on its lengthwise axison said valve cylinder` with which `it is in threaded encentrically around a conventional valve system.

The latterincludes a piston rectilinearly movable within a cylinder to and away from a valve seat in response to automatic actuating` means, said piston being yprovidedvvith a seat to engage the open end of a iluid supply Vpipe whichextends into said cylinder. Said cylindricalcollar is prof" vided at one end thereof with internalthreads adapted to engage external threads provided on said valve cylinder a short distance from one of gagement serves to enlarge or restrict thecapacF ity of said path.`

According to another characteristic feature of the invention, a washer made ofrubber or other resilient material and having ya frustoeconical shape, is disposed around said` supply pipe, the `wider end of said washer being suitably held against said cylindrical collar at the end thereof which is provided with the aperture communicatine' with the supply tank, and in communication with said aperture. Thenarrowed end of said Washer is adapted to ,engage a portion` of the exterior surface of'said` supply pipe in resiliently tight fit. The washer is thus adapted to control "the direction of flow ofthe uid released bythe valve system referred to. Thus, in case of pressure loss in the supply pipe,` back-now is prevented-V" .i l Further 'objects and features of the invention `will become apparent to those skilled `in the art its ends, whereby aportion of the valve cylinder is adapted to extend into said cylindrical collar.

`The valve` cylinder is provided with" suitable apertures communicating` `with the interiorof "said cylindricalcollar and constituting pathsfor the uid released bythe valve. The saidqcylin# drical collar is also provided with apertures, one of which communicates with `a sewer trap, and the other of which communicates with the supply tank served by the valve.

The aperture of.` said `cylindrical collar which communicates with the supply tank is formed at asthe vdescription progresses.

` The invention will now be described in` more detail, reference being madeto the accompanying` drawing, in which like referencenumerals refer to like` Darts `'throughout the two` `figures thereof.

11n thedrawing: t f Fig. l `shows an elevation, partly in Section, of atoilet flushing system in which anembodiment ofmy inventonis ncorporatedand r Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve structure of Fig 1.

[Referring `to Eig.. l, `a supply pipef l isadapted to supplygiluid totank 1. `A valve system responsive to the level of fluid `in tank A2 `is con- `stituted by valvefcylindel `"iQpiston` 4, valve` face 5 on said piston, shown in Fig. 2, andthe open end 6 of supply pipe l, constituting the valve seat, which extends intosaid cylinder 3 and which is also shown in Fig. 2. Piston 4 is adapted to be moved within said cylinder 3 in a rectilinear sense to and away from seat 6 by the lever system comprising rod 6 mounted on fulcrum 1, and which is actuated by iioat 8.

Referring to Fig. 2, valve cylinder 3 is provided with apertures 9 communicating with its interior. Surrounding that portion of said valve cylinder 3 provided with the apertures 9, is a cylindricalcollar I0. Collar I is adapted to be associated with said cylinder 3 by a threaded engagement shown at II, I2. The threads II are provided on the inner surface of collar` I0 at one end thereof, and engage threads I2 disposed on the outer surface of cylinder 3 at a distance away from either end of said cylinder and at a point such that when cylinder 3 andvcollar I0 are in threaded engagement, said collar confines that portion of valve cylinder 3 which is provided with apertures 9.

Communicating with the interior of collar I 0 is a channel I3 which, with tubing I4 and pipe I5, forms a path for the fluid to a sewer trap, not shown.

Also communicating with` the interior of said cylindrical collar IU, is an annular opening I6, formed by an inner conical wall of collar I0 and an outer conical member 3. Thus advancing collar I on cylinder threads I2 results in decreasing the cross-sectional area Iof opening I6 and lessens the rate of flow of the fluid through said opening. By unscrewing the collar III on cylinder threads I2, the cross-sectional areaI of opening I6'is enlarged, resulting in an increased rate of iiuid ow therethrough. Set screw I9 is adaptedfto hold collar I0 in a set position with respect to cylinder 3. Y v

The presence of tubing I4 does not presentan appreciable obstacle to a setting of collar I0 on cylinder 3. i Each setting is usually preserved over a long interval of time, and to remove said tubing from its engagement with collar IU, which may be either threaded or frictional, prior to an adjustment, does not involve a serious drawback.

The path for the fluid formed by annular opening I6 communicates with an annular path formed by the interior surface of a frusto-conical washer 2U made of rubber or other resilient material, and the exterior surface of supply pipe I Washer 20 is axed at its'wider end to the free end of collar I0 by means of ring 2| which is in threaded engagement with said free end of collar I0. The narrowed end of washer 20 is provided with an opening substantially congruous to a cross-section of supply pipe I, whereby the wall of said narrowed opening is adapted to engage the exterior surface of supply pipe I in a resiliently tight t. The wider end of said washer 20 is in cross-section relatively thicker and consequently less resilient than the narrower end. The thicker end of said washer is also provided with a fiange 22 adapted to be engaged by ring Said' cross-section of said washer 20 presents a surface that at the narrower end thereof substantially cornes to a point. struction of washer 2E) imparts the characteristic of permitting flow of iiuid in a direction from the supply pipe l, through the valve system, and to the interior of tank 2. The pressure of the fluid overcomes the resilient constricting tendency of the narrower end of washer 20. However,

This conuation, the pressure of the iiuid would tend to compress the narrower end of washer 20 around supply pipe I and this provides an effective seal to such reversed ow.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that my invention is by no means limited to the particular organizations and structures shown. For example, the collar III and washer 20 of my invention may be utilized other than in association with a conventional 4valve system, and may, in view of its specic construction for instance, be arranged to serve as an independent one-way valve. My invention may have application other than to toilet flushing systems. In addition, it is within the purview of my invention to provide a conventional valve system at one location, and lead the output therefrom by a suitable duct to the fluid flow adjusting and controlling elements described at a removed location. In this modification, suitable `elements may be provided to perform the 'functions of the valve cylinder 3 and supply pipe I in forming a portion of an adjustable annular path. My invention also is clearly adapted for use in controlling the flow of matter in any iiuid state, such as a gas, for example.

What I claim is:

l. In a valve, an inner hollow cylindrical member, an outer hollow cylindrical member concentric therewith, the exterior wall of said inner member being spaced from the interior wall of said outer member, whereby a chamber is formed between said members, means at one end of said chamber for manually varying the cross-sectional area of a portion of said chamber, means at the other end of said chamber adapted to permit only the outflow of fluid therefrom, said means comprising an annular resilient member forming a portion of said outer cylindrical member, said annular resilient member at one end thereof being spaced from said inner cylindrical member, and at the other end forming a resiliently tight engagement with a periphery of the said inner cylindrical member, whereby said rst and second means are adapted to -control the rate, and prevent the reversal of iiow respectively, of uid therethrough.

2. In a valve, means for preventing the reverse flow of fluid, said means comprising in combination a supply pipe, an outlet end for said supply pipe, a chamber enclosing said outlet end, an outlet end for said chamber, a frusto-conical collar of resilient material, the larger end of said collar being formed integral with a flange portion constituting a gasket for sealing said larger end against said outlet end of said chamber, the narrower end of said collar embracing said supply pipe, and a retaining ring attached to said outlet end of said chamber for holding said gasket under compression, said collar and said supply pipe providing an annular outlet yfor said fluid when the narrower end of said collar is expanded away from said supply pipe in responseto uid pressure in saidchamber, and also providing a seal against reverse flow of fluid when said narrower end of said collar is contracted inthe absence of substantial pressure in said chamber.

PETER GEORGE FUNK. 

